It’s simple to start a blog. Once you choose a name you like and buy a domain, you can have it up and running in 10 minutes. Sounds rather simple, doesn’t it?
However, while creating a blog is easy, blogging itself requires a little more time and work, especially if you’re writing for a specific reason.
There are numerous things to consider when taking up blogging, be it a hobby or a new career path. So, it is no surprise that it can seem complicated and overwhelming at times, and you’re bound to make mistakes.
This post will highlight the most typical blunders made by many newbie bloggers (sometimes professionals also).
1. Writing Just for Pleasure
A lot of the time, authors write for themselves and don’t consider their readers. Readers are, just like everyone else, self-centered.
They will not read what you have to say if they don’t find the information they came for. That’s why it’s essential to write blog posts that address an issue, answer a question or tackle a trending topic.
Sure, this should be something you’re interested in, you might get burned out very soon if it’s not. But, always make sure you’re writing to provide value to those that will read it.
2. Making the “About” Page About You
Many bloggers mistake thinking that their “About” page is about them. However, this is not the case. In reality, the “About Us” page should be about your blog – more precisely, what’s it about, who’s it for, and why they should be reading it.
Your readers will know right away whether this is the right site for them and what they can anticipate from you in the future if the “About” page is clear and gets the message across.
3. A Lack of Organization
Staying organized from the get-go will greatly improve your chances of success and ensure you won’t give too hastily.
If you don’t know what you’re publishing and when you’re publishing it, your work-day will devolve into chaos. And, no one can work in such conditions. So, make sure you have a clear plan and follow it.
4. No Consistency
To fully appreciate what you have to offer, your audience requires some consistency. Blogging frequently and infrequently is a huge mistake that’s sadly all too common.
Many professional bloggers agree on the idea that blogging daily is not the smartest move. So, instead of blogging daily, you should try and deliver consistency instead. Do this by setting up a schedule.
So, let’s say, for example, you’ve decided to blog at 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday. That way, your viewers will know when to expect your next piece and be more receptive to it.
5. Missing Images
We all know that people don’t have a lot of time to read long content, so they’ll scroll down to find anything that might catch their eye.
The easiest way to get the readers’ attention is to use images. It’s no secret that most people will read less than half of your post because their attention will slip. But images can come to the rescue by grabbing their attention back.
This is the most effective approach to break up your material and keep the reader interested. If you write about statistics or technical information, adding a few graphs or charts might also be a good idea.
6. Not Engaging With Readers
Simply publishing good material can boost exposure and improve rankings. Still, if you don’t respond to comments, you won’t be able to connect with your audience.
Responding to their comments can help you develop a solid relationship with them. When you do, people will remember you.
7. A Lack of Knowledge About Keywords
Learning about SEO can be scary and seem overly complicated to get the hang of. Understanding SEO makes a great difference in ensuring your content will be seen.
And being noticed is only half the battle when it comes to developing your brand and, eventually, monetizing your blog. So, do invest some time in learning about SEO and keywords especially.
8. Not Wanting to Invest Time
There’s a lot more to blogging than just creating an article and pressing the publish button. Blogging is a jack of all crafts, and you’ll ultimately master some of them, but you won’t be able to do it without some help.
If you don’t invest time in learning new things and betting your writing, it will soon become stale, and even your most loyal reader will lose interest in due time.
9. Lenght Over Substance
Even though long-form content tends to be more successful than short form, focusing on the length alone is a huge blunder. That’s not to say that comprehensive blogs aren’t beneficial to SEO.
But in reality, readers like articles that completely cover all aspects of a topic, so they don’t have to hunt for more information once they’ve finished reading. So, if you opt for long-form content, make sure every sentence counts.
10. Not Using Social Media
You need social media to market your content since your readers are already there. To do a good job, you’ll need to make a promotion strategy.
Sift through various social media outlets, pick the ones you like best, and focus on them. You don’t need them all, and it’s impossible to have them all when you’re just getting started. Social media is a great way to connect to your audience and promote your content.
11. Not Taking Advantage of Internal Linking
Let’s say someone was browsing about and stumbled upon your article. They finished reading it and realized he had a few more questions about the subject and are now looking for the answers.
Can another one of your posts provide the answer? If so, make sure to link other connected articles to make other information instantly available and noticeable.
In addition to just helping your reads, Google will also boost your ranking when there’s a lot of quality interlinking.
12. Sounding Like a Door-to-Door Salesman
Unless you’re a well-known business with a large following, posting an endless slew of promotional articles and advertising on your blog won’t bring in the money you need. Building relationships and providing value are the keys to generating money as a blogger.
You will gain your readers ‘ respect if you do those two things properly. They will be more inclined to purchase anything you recommend or offer if they trust you.